What is YOUR "thorn in the flesh"?

[Bruce-Leiter]

I don't want any speculation about the nature of Paul's "thorn in the flesh." Other threads do that kind of discussion. Finding out what it was is not my interest, but sharing our experiences with weaknesses is.

Mine is physical pain, four kinds, that started 38 years ago the third Friday in March. It developed at the very depth of my seven years of major depression, from which God has delivered me for more than three decades now.

God has said "no" to my many requests to take away my pain but has given me his grace to control it, be at peace about it, and remain effective in many years of preaching and teaching his Word in churches and of writing books to honor him.

The result is that he has humbled me, using Satan's attacks, to depend on him, especially in dependent prayer, so that I can testify clearly and honestly what Paul says, "When I am weak, I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:10).

How has God used his grace to enable you to deal with your "thorn in the flesh"?

 

[Dan Clarkston]

That's pretty funny.... some thinking the Lord is working with satan to keep people "humble"

 

[Dan Clarkston]

Mine is physical pain, four kinds, that started 38 years ago the third Friday in March. It developed at the very depth of my seven years of major depression, from which God has delivered me for more than three decades now.

If you had known God's promises back then, stood on them with consistency when physical pain first started.... you could have been free from pain. (see Proverbs 4:20-23, 1 Peter 2:24, Matthew 8:17, Isaiah 53:4, 5, James 5:14,15, Psalms 91:9,10... coupled with God's Wisdom leading one to eat right, exercise, and other common sense measures to maintain good health)

God's Word contains promises concerning this and sadly so many end up accepting physical pain as being something the Lord wants them to experience even though Jesus took our infirmities upon Himself to provide a pathway thru God's Word for us to be free from that.

I've experienced all kinds of strange and odd pains trying to come upon my body... but the Lord delivered me out of them all just like He did with Paul

2 Timothy 3:10,11
But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

Psalm 34:19
Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

Jesus is our Lord and Savior, He is the One was are called to be like and to follow... not Paul, so why not look at Jesus and be like Him???

 

[Bruce-Leiter]

That's pretty funny.... some thinking the Lord is working with satan to keep people "humble" View attachment 51960

So, you must disagree with Paul that his "thorn" was a "messenger of Satan" and that God brought good out of it by grace to humble Paul, is that right?

 

[Bruce-Leiter]

If you had known God's promises back then, stood on them with consistency when physical pain first started.... you could have been free from pain. (see Proverbs 4:20-23, 1 Peter 2:24, Matthew 8:17, Isaiah 53:4, 5, James 5:14,15, Psalms 91:9,10... coupled with God's Wisdom leading one to eat right, exercise, and other common sense measures to maintain good health)

God's Word contains promises concerning this and sadly so many end up accepting physical pain as being something the Lord wants them to experience even though Jesus took our infirmities upon Himself to provide a pathway thru God's Word for us to be free from that.

I've experienced all kinds of strange and odd pains trying to come upon my body... but the Lord delivered me out of them all just like He did with Paul

2 Timothy 3:10,11
But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

Psalm 34:19
Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

Jesus is our Lord and Savior, He is the One was are called to be like and to follow... not Paul, so why not look at Jesus and be like Him???

Major depression is a disease that grabs ahold of a person with anger and anxiety in the unconscious mind. At least, it did with me. Since it is a disease, it needs God's help of some kind through people for it to disappear. God gave me that help but left the pain to keep me dependent on him for his gifts of preaching and now writing. I was not aware of it until it brought me down. Then, I sought help, and no amount of right eating, exercise, or other measures could help me--I was doing those things anyway--but psychological help to get me in touch with my grief, anger, and anxiety and to get healing from them through prayer. But the physical pain remained.

Where in the Bible does Paul say that God delivered him from pain? Your passages say deliverance but not what kind of deliverance. God delivered me from the grief I felt about my pain with his peace of Philippians 4:6-7 but not from the pain itself. As a result, he enabled me to accept all pain in my life because of all the good that he did spiritually for me. He healed me emotionally, not physically; that was his great deliverance.

 

[Bruce-Leiter]

That's pretty funny.... some thinking the Lord is working with satan to keep people "humble" View attachment 51960

God didn't "work with" Satan on anything, but he has permitted and brought good out of the "messenger from Satan" that Paul describes his "thorn in the flesh" as.

 

[Bruce-Leiter]

It appears that people don't want to share their "thorns in the flesh." I wonder why that is. Is it that we need to appear strong, even on a forum, instead of admitting that we are really weak? I'm inviting you to share what God has done in helping you deal with your "thorn" so that your witness may strengthen all of us.

 

[Ritajanice]

Physical pain.he gives me the strength to endure.

Weakness around a loved one...he gives me the strength to walk away, until they apologise for their abuse.

 

[marks]

Mine is physical pain, four kinds, that started 38 years ago the third Friday in March. It developed at the very depth of my seven years of major depression, from which God has delivered me for more than three decades now.

God has said "no" to my many requests to take away my pain but has given me his grace to control it, be at peace about it, and remain effective in many years of preaching and teaching his Word in churches and of writing books to honor him.

Me too. The after effects of major depression, mostly in pain and fatigue, that's a big part. In my weakness is His strength.

Much love!

 

[Wrangler]

My thorn in the flesh are all the SOB’s in the world that otherwise would make Christianity easy to practice.

 

[NotTheRock]

My thorn in the flesh are all the SOB’s in the world that otherwise would make Christianity easy to practice.

Me too.

 

[Dan Clarkston]

So, you must disagree with Paul that his "thorn" was a "messenger of satan" and that God brought good out of it by grace to humble Paul, is that right?

The messenger of satan was demonic opposition sent by satan to try and thwart the Lord's ministry thru Paul to make it as ineffective as possible. Paul specifically stated that the Lord delivered him from ALL of his afflictions.... you can keep all the afflictions in your life that you want. Enjoy!

1 Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time

God's Word teaches that we are to humble ourselves before the Lord... those that think God sent satan to try and stop Paul from doing what God called Paul to do are fakin and mistaken.

It appears that people don't want to share their "thorns in the flesh."

Why sit around talking about what the devil is trying to do to us?

I like to speak of the power of the Lord that delivers me from what the devil is trying to do.

But you do you.... if you believe thorns are of the Lord and God sent them to trip you up then enjoy that false doctrine to it's fullest.

It's not scriptural, but whatever....

My thorn in the flesh are all the SOB’s in the world that otherwise would make Christianity easy to practice.

If you are letting others stand in the way of you having a wonderful relationship with the Lord... you aren't doing it right! LoL!

 

[marks]

The messenger of satan was demonic opposition sent by satan to try and thwart the Lord's ministry thru Paul to make it as ineffective as possible. Paul specifically stated that the Lord delivered him from ALL of his afflictions.... you can keep all the afflictions in your life that you want. Enjoy!

2 Timothy 4:17-18 KJV
17) Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
18) And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Of course, this deliverance included when Paul was executed. Being delivered from evil works doesn't always mean that you won't have to endure the circumstance. God doesn't promise a free ride through this life, no pain, no suffering.

Much love!

 

[Dan Clarkston]

Of course, this deliverance included when Paul was executed

No, that's no what Paul said... Paul was delivered from these things while he was still alive because he was an over comer.

1 John 5:4
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Paul got his faith from Jesus Christ as should we...

Galatians 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Jesus is our Lord and Savior, He is the One was are called to be like and to follow... not Paul, so why not look at Jesus and be like Him???

Besides, Paul grow in the Lord in his later years to where nobody was slapping him around anymore... the last record we have of Paul in scripture is in the end of the Book of Acts:

Acts 28:30
And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

Paul lived in his own rented house for 2 years preaching with NO man forbidding him.... so Paul overcame and gained victory the "thorn" (demonic opposition)!

It's sad to see so many being deceived by the devil in to following Paul rather than being followers of trhe Lord Jesus who said...

John 14:30
for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

Ephesians 4:27
Neither give place to the devil.

People falsely believe Paul was perfect, didn't have to grow and learn, and made no mistakes

 

[Dan Clarkston]

God doesn't promise a free ride through this life, no pain, no suffering.

Well then.... rejoice in thy pain and suffering and glorify it!

 

[marks]

No, that's no what Paul said... Paul was delivered from these things while he was still alive because he was an over comer.

Revelation 12:11 KJV
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Overcoming isn't always escaping from harm. We are delivered from evil, at times, by enduring through it.

Peter also mentions when we suffer according to God's will.

Much love!

 

[marks]

Well then.... rejoice in thy pain and suffering and glorify it!

What silly thing to say! Why would we glorify pain and suffering? Save the glory for God.

Much love!

 

[Wrangler]

If you are letting others stand in the way of you having a wonderful relationship with the Lord... you aren't doing it right! LoL!

Didn't say that. Just admitted what the thorn in my side is.

If you think other people could tempt one to back slide and turn away from Christ, you are not paying attention. It's easy to be spiritual when it is only you and God. When all the SOB's do everything they can to distract, pick, prod and otherwise be a thorn in your side, one can actually struggle to imagine a better means to seduce God's children away from His will.

 

[Bruce-Leiter]

Physical pain.he gives me the strength to endure.

Weakness around a loved one...he gives me the strength to walk away, until they apologise for their abuse.

You're on my daily prayer list now, if that's okay with you.

 

[Bruce-Leiter]

Me too. The after effects of major depression, mostly in pain and fatigue, that's a big part. In my weakness is His strength.

Much love!

God has given me emotional relief of the peace of Philippians 4:6-7 with a biblical prayer that isn't in our western culture to our detriment. It is lamenting like Job 10, Psalm 39 and 88, and Jeremiah's Lamentations. God used such persistent prayers to give me that peace. Try it persistently until he gives you his peace, if you don't have in yet.